Alignment members

ABSTRACT

Example alignment members are provided herein. In one example, the alignment member includes a frame member, a stiffener member, a bracket member, and a spring member. The frame member includes a set of roller bushings. The stiffener member includes a set of cam members. The bracket member to receive the stiffener member. The spring member is connected to the stiffener member. The spring member to expand and contract based on the position of the set of roller bushings.

BACKGROUND

Computing systems may include a system board with a number of socketconnectors to couple module boards to the system board. The moduleboards can be hot-pluggable transceiver modules used for network datacommunications. The system board may be behind a faceplate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure are described in thefollowing description, read with reference to the figures attachedhereto and do not limit the scope of the claims. In the figures,identical and similar structures, elements or parts thereof that appearin more than one figure are generally labeled with the same or similarreferences in the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of componentsand features illustrated in the figures are chosen primarily forconvenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily toscale. Referring to the attached figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an alignment member according toan example;

FIG. 2 illustrates a frame member usable with the alignment member ofFIG. 1 according to examples;

FIGS. 3-4 illustrate isometric views of a stiffener member usable withthe alignment member of FIG. 1 according to examples;

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate isometric views of a bracket, stiffener, and springmember usable with the alignment member of FIG. 1 according to anexample;

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a module board assembly accordingto an example;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the module board assembly of FIG.7 according to an example;

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate side views of the module board assembly of FIG. 7according to examples;

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of a system to mate a module boardassembly with a socket on a system board according to an example;

FIG. 12 illustrates an exploded view of the system of FIG. 11 accordingto an example;

FIG. 13 illustrates an isometric view of a portion of the system of FIG.11 with the module board assembly uninstalled according to examples;

FIG. 14 illustrates a isometric view of a portion of the system of FIG.11 with the module board assembly installed according to an example;

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the system of FIG. 11 with the rollerbushings not in contact with the cam members according to an example;

FIG. 16 illustrates a rear view of the system of FIG. 11 with the rollerbushings not in contact with the cam members according to an example

FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of the system of FIG. 11 with the rollerbushings in contact with the cam members according to an example; and

FIG. 18 illustrates a rear view of the system of FIG. 11 with the rollerbushings in contact with the cam members according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is depictedby way of illustration specific examples in which the present disclosuremay be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may beutilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

Module boards, such as hot-pluggable transceivers, are mated to a systemboard using a staged contact mating sequence. For example, group, power,and signals are mating in a consistent and specific order. Many timesthere are size limitations on the module boards, for example, largepin-count Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) use differentheight contacts, which are more expensive and can cause inconsistentmating forces.

An alignment member to mate a module board of varying sizes is providedherein. The alignment member includes a frame member, a stiffenermember, a bracket member, and a spring member. The frame member includesa set of roller bushings. The stiffener member includes a set of cammembers. The bracket member receives the stiffener member. The springmember is connected to the stiffener member. The spring member to expandand contract based on the position of the set of roller bushings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an alignment member 100 accordingto an example. The alignment member 100 includes a frame member 120, astiffener member 140, a bracket member 160, and a spring member 180. Theframe member includes a set of roller bushings 130. The stiffener member140 includes a set of cam members 150. The bracket member 160 receivesthe stiffener member 140. The spring member 180 is connected to thestiffener member 140. The spring member 180 expands and contracts basedon the position of the set of roller bushings 130.

FIG. 2 illustrates a frame member 120 usable with the alignment member100 of FIG. 1 according to an example. As illustrated, the frame member120 includes a planar housing 222 with two side walls 224 extending fromthe planar housing 222 and a front panel 226 attached to the planarhousing 222. The roller bushings 130 are attached to the two side walls224 and are illustrated as four roller bushings 130, two on each sidewall 224. As further illustrated in FIGS. 9-10 below, the rollerbushings 130 apply a force on the stiffener member 140 to move thespring member 180 when the roller bushings 130 and the cam members 150engage.

FIGS. 3-4 illustrate isometric views of the stiffener member usable withthe alignment member of FIG. 1 according to examples. FIG. 3 illustratesa top view of the stiffener member 140, and FIG. 4 illustrates a bottomview of the stiffener member 140. The stiffener member 140 asillustrated includes a planar surface 342 with rail members 344 on eachside. The rail members 344 include four cam members 150 with two cammembers 150 integrated into each rail member 344. As illustrated the setof cam members 150 are shaped on the stiffener member 140; however, thecam members 150 may also be attached to the stiffener member 140. Theset of cam members 150 may come in a variety of shapes and designs thatprovide a ramp 352 for the set of roller bushings 130. For example,FIGS. 3-4 illustrate the ramp 352 as two ramps 352 on both sides of aflat surface 354 where the roller bushings 130 can sit.

The stiffener member 140 is illustrated to include spring apertures 346to receive a spring member 180 and control vertical movement of thestiffener member 140. The spring member 180 provides a vertical degreeof freedom of motion and may also couple the stiffener member 140 andthe bracket member 160 in a horizontal degree of freedom of motion.Horizontal movement of the stiffener member 140 coupled to the bracketmember 160 may be controlled using a loading spring (illustrated inFIGS. 9-10) attached to the bracket member 160. Examples of the loadingspring include leaf springs 525 as illustrated in FIG. 5 and compressionsprings 625 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8-9.

The stiffener member 140 as illustrated also includes heat sink members358 integrated into the planar surface 342 of the stiffener member 140as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4 as pillars 359 directly in contact with theASIC or alternatively includes a separate heat sink directly attached tothe ASIC.

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate isometric views of the bracket member 160 and thestiffener member 140 usable with the alignment member 100 of FIG. 1according to examples. FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of the bracketmember 160 and the stiffener member 140. In FIG. 5, the stiffener member140 attaches to the bracket member 160 via the spring member 180 withthe set of cam members 150 visible. The spring apertures 346 areillustrated as having a spring member 180 therein and a washer 548 tohold the spring member 180 in place. FIG. 6 illustrates a top view ofthe bracket 160 and the stiffener member 140. In FIG. 6, the rail member344 and the cam members 150 are illustrated with the ramps 352 and aflat surface 354. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the bracket member 160covers the stiffener member 140 and leaves an opening for the railmember 344 and the set of cam members 150 to form a track that receivesthe roller bushings 130 and connects the bracket member 160 and thestiffener member 140 to the frame member 120. The stiffener member 140and the bracket member 160 are connected using standoffs 649, upon whichthe stiffener member 140 vertically slides.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a module board assembly 700 tomate with a socket on a system board according to an example. FIG. 8illustrates an exploded view of the module board assembly 700 of FIG. 7according to an example. The module board assembly 700 includes analignment member 100 and module board 710. The alignment member 100includes a frame member 120, a stiffener member 140, a bracket member160, and a spring member 180. The frame member 120 includes a set ofroller bushings 130 connected thereto. The stiffener member 140 includesa set of cam members 150 attached thereto. The bracket member 160 toreceive the stiffener member 140. The spring member 180 couples thestiffener member 140 and the bracket member 160. The spring member 180to control vertical movement of the stiffener member 140 based on thehorizontal position of the set of roller bushings 130. The module board710 is connected to the stiffener member 140 by using fasteners 812 andfastener posts 814, which align and mate the module board 710 with thesocket on the system board based on the position of the stiffener member140.

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate side views of the module board assembly of FIG. 7according to examples. Referring to FIG. 9, the module board assembly700 in a first position, P₁, with the frame member 120 not fullyinserted. This position may also be referred to an uninstalled position.Position P₁ occurs prior to mating the module board 710 with the socketon the system board. In FIG. 9, the set of roller bushings 130 arepositioned on the rail member 344 of the stiffener member 140, and ishorizontally positioned not to engage with the ramp 352. In position P₁,the spring member 180 is illustrated in an uncompressed state, S₁. Inthe uncompressed state, S₁, illustrated, the spring member 180 remainsextended when the set of roller bushings 130 are not in contact with anyof the cam members 150. The spring member 180 holds the stiffener member140 attached to the module board 710 in an unmated state, i.e., themodule board 710 is not in a position to mate with the system board orsystem board socket.

Referring to FIG. 10, the module board assembly 700 is in a secondposition, P₂, with the frame 120 fully inserted. Position P₂ is theposition that mates the module board 710 with the socket on the systemboard. This position may also be referred to as an installed position.In FIG. 10, the set of roller bushings 130 are positioned on the railmember 344 of the stiffener member 140, and are horizontally engaged ona flat surface 354. For example, the ramp 352 may include two ramps withthe flat surface 354 therebetween. In position P₂, the spring member 180is illustrated in a compressed state, S₂. The spring member 180contracts when at least one roller bushing of the set of roller bushings130 contacts at least one cam member 150 of the set of cam members 150.The spring member 180 compresses in position P₂ to move the stiffenermember 140 vertically and place the stiffener member 140 attached to themodule board 710 in a mated state, i.e., the module board 710 is in aposition to mate with the system board or system board socket.

Other variations of the mating sequence may also be used. For example,the size, number, and position of the roller bushings 130 and/or cammembers 150 may be varied. This will allow a variety of module boards710 to mate with system boards that typically include socket contacts ofthe same height for lower cost and more consistent mating forces. FIGS.9-10 illustrate the module board 710 dropping down in a plane parallelto the socket; however, the module board 710 may be inserted at an angleto engage the contacts on the socket in sequence. For example, first,mating ground row contacts; second, mating power row contacts; andthird, mating differential signals and additional grounds. To mate themodule board 710 at an angle, the position of the cam members 150 may beadjusted such that a first pair of roller bushings 130 engage with afirst pair of cam members 150 before a second pair of roller bushings130 engage with a second pair of cam members 150 to form the angle. Forexample, once the second pair of roller bushings 130 engage with thesecond pair of cam members 150 the first and second row of contacts,e.g., the ground row contacts and power row contacts, will already bemated and then, the final row of contacts, e.g., the differentialsignals and additional grounds, may be sequentially mated.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9-10, the frame member 120 moves horizontallywithin the module board assembly 700 as the stiffener member 140 movesvertically to mate the module board 710 with the system board. Forexample, a pre-loading spring, such as a compression spring 625, may beused to provide horizontal movement of the frame member 120 connected tothe module board assembly 700. A leaf spring or other manual mechanismsmay also be used to provide the horizontal movement. The spring member180 controls the vertical movement. FIGS. 9-10 illustrate the springmember 180 positioned between a retaining member, such as a washer 548and the stiffener member 140. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, thespring apertures 346 receives a spring member 180 and the washer 548provides a stop for the spring member 180.

The compression spring 625 is illustrated between the frame member 120and the bracket member 160 that is coupled to the stiffener member 140in a position where the roller bushings 130 are not engaged with the cammembers 150. In a first position, P₁, the compression spring 625positions the roller bushings 130 not engaged with the cam members 150.During installation, the roller bushings 130 engage with the cam members150, and the module board assembly 700 moves horizontally until themodule board assembly 700 contacts the cage member 905. Two pairs ofroller bushings 130 may engage with the cam members 150 simultaneouslyor sequentially. For example, in FIG. 10, cam members C₂ may engage withroller bushings 130 R₂ before cam members 150 C₁ engage with rollerbushings 130 R₁ for sequential mating by adjusting the ramp 352.Alternatively, the cam members C₁ and C₂ may engage with roller bushings130 R₁ and R₂ for simultaneous mating. In either way, the rollerbushings 130 R₁ and R₂ will both engage with the cam members C₁ and C₂and remain on the flat surface 354 to complete the mating between themodule board 710 and the system board. As the module board assembly 700contacts the cage member 905, the compression spring 625 compresses andmaintains the engaged position of the roller bushings 130 with the cammembers 150. As long as the module board assembly 700 contacts the cagemember 905, the compression spring 625 maintains the horizontal positionof the module board assembly 700 and remains mated.

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of a system 1100 to mate a moduleboard assembly 700 with a socket on a system board 710 according to anexample. The system 1100 includes the module board assembly 700 and thesystem board 1190. The module board assembly 700 includes an alignmentmember 100 and a module board 710. The alignment member 100 includes aframe member 120, a stiffener member 140, a bracket member 160, and aspring member 180. The frame member 120 includes a set of rollerbushings 130 connected thereto. The stiffener member 140 includes a setof cam members 150 attached thereto. The bracket member 160 to receivethe stiffener member 140. The spring member 180 is connected to thestiffener member 140. The spring member 180 to control vertical movementof the stiffener member 140 based on the position of the set of rollerbushings 130. The module board 710 is connected to the stiffener member140. The system board 1190 includes a socket 1195 to mate with themodule board 710 and a cage member 905 to receive the module boardassembly 700.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exploded view of the system 1100 of FIG. 11according to an example. The system 1100 includes the module boardassembly 700, the system board 1190, the socket member 1195, and thecage member 905 to receive the module board assembly 700 attachable tothe system board 1190. FIGS. 13-14 are assembled views of the system1100. FIG. 13 illustrates an isometric view of a portion of the system1100 of FIG. 11 with the module board assembly 700 uninstalled accordingto examples. FIG. 14 illustrates an isometric view of a portion of thesystem 1100 of FIG. 11 with the module board assembly 700 installedaccording to an example.

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the system 1100 of FIG. 11 with theroller bushings 130 not in contact with the cam members 150 according toan example. FIG. 16 illustrates a rear view of the system 1100 of FIG.11 with the roller bushings 130 not in contact with the cam members 150according to an example. The module board 710 is connected to anunderside of the stiffener member 140. Referring to FIGS. 15-16, themodule board assembly 700 is in a first position, P₁, with the framemember 120 not fully inserted. The set of roller bushings 130 arepositioned on the rail member 344 of the stiffener member 140, and ishorizontally positioned not to engage with the ramp 352. The set ofroller bushings 130 are not in contact with any of the cam members 150.The spring member 180 holds the stiffener member 140 connected to themodule board 710 in an unmated state, M₁, i.e., the module board 710 isnot in a position to mate with the system board or system board socket.The compression spring 625 also maintains the module board assembly 700horizontally. The locking tabs 1207 are not positioned to engage withslots 1209 on the cage member 905.

FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of the system 1100 of FIG. 11 with theroller bushings 130 in contact with the cam members 150 according to anexample. FIG. 18 illustrates a rear view of the system 1100 of FIG. 11with the roller bushings 130 in contact with the cam members 150according to an example. Referring to FIGS. 17-18, the module boardassembly 700 is in a second position, P₂, with the frame 120 fullyinserted. Position P₂ is the position that mates the module board 710with the socket on the system board. This position may also be referredto as an installed position. In FIG. 10, the set of roller bushings 130are positioned on the rail member 344 of the stiffener member 140, andare horizontally positioned to engage with the set of cam members 150.The set of cam members 150 include two ramps 352 with a flat surface 354there between. At least one roller bushing of the set of roller bushings130 contacts at least one cam member 150 of the set of cam members 150and the set of roller bushings 130 apply pressure to the stiffenermember 140, which causes the spring member 180 to contract. The springmember 180 compresses in position P₂ to move the stiffener member 140vertically and place the stiffener member 140 connected to the moduleboard 710 in a mated state, Md2, i.e., the module board 710 is in aposition to mate with the system board 1190 or system board socket,i.e., socket 1195.

The compression spring 625 engages with the cage member 905 andcompresses to maintain the horizontal position of the module boardassembly 700. The locking tabs 1207 engage with the slots 1209 on thecage member 905 to keep the compression spring 625 compressed. To removethe module board assembly 700, the locking tabs 1207 may be depressed torelease compression on the compression spring 625. Release of thelocking tabs 1207 moves the set of roller bushings 130 away from the setof cam members 150, i.e., position P₂, as illustrated in FIGS. 17-19,and towards position P₁, as illustrated in FIGS. 15-16. The presentdisclosure has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptionsof examples thereof and is not intended to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. It should be understood that features and/oroperations described with respect to one example may be used with otherexamples and that not all examples of the present disclosure have all ofthe features and/or operations illustrated in a particular figure ordescribed with respect to one of the examples. Variations of examplesdescribed will occur to persons of the art. Furthermore, the terms“comprise,” “include,” “have” and their conjugates, shall mean, whenused in the present disclosure and/or claims, “including but notnecessarily limited to.”

It is noted that some of the above described examples may includestructure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not beessential to the present disclosure and are intended to be examples.Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents,which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts aredifferent, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of the presentdisclosure is limited only by the elements and limitations as used inthe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An alignment member comprising: a frame memberincluding a set of roller bushings connected thereto; a stiffener memberincluding a set of cam members attached thereto; a bracket member toreceive the stiffener member; and a spring member connected to thestiffener member, the spring member to expand and contract based on theposition of the set of roller bushings.
 2. The alignment member of claim1, wherein the set of cam members are shaped on the stiffener member. 3.The alignment member of claim 1, wherein the set of cam members providea ramp for the set of roller bushings.
 4. The alignment member of claim3, wherein the ramp comprises two ramps with a flat surface between thetwo ramps.
 5. The alignment member of claim 1, wherein the rollerbushings apply a force on the stiffener member when the roller bushingsand the cam members engage.
 6. The alignment member of claim 1, whereinthe stiffener member comprises a heat sink.
 7. The alignment member ofclaim 1, wherein the stiffener member comprises a planar member.
 8. Thealignment member of claim 1, wherein the stiffener member comprises arail member.
 9. The alignment member of claim 8, wherein the set of cammembers are integrated into the rail member.
 10. The alignment member ofclaim 1, wherein the frame member includes a planar housing with twoside walls extending from the planar housing and a front panel attachedto the planar housing.
 11. The alignment member of claim 1, wherein thestiffener member comprises spring apertures to receive the spring memberand control vertical movement of the stiffener member.